UK consumer group Which? has called on the government to change the law to ensure consumers do not lose out when their data is compromised.
The organisation said in a statement that it would like to see the Data Protection Bill, currently being debated in Parliament, amended to enable independent organisations acting in public interest to help groups of affected consumers to receive collective redress.
It comes amid research produced by Which?, which showed that almost one in 10 people who have shared their details online believe they have been subject to a data breach in the past 12 months.
According to the research, three quarters of those surveyed were concerned that the information shared could be at risk.
The research also unveiled general confusion around the UK’s current data protection rules, including a lack of knowledge about who was responsible for safeguarding consumers’ data and how these could seek redress.
Commenting on the findings, Alex Neill, managing director of home products and services, said: “Data breaches are now more commonplace and yet many people have no idea what to do or who to turn to when their personal data is compromised.
“The government should use the Data Protection Bill to give independent bodies the power to seek collective redress on behalf of consumers when a company has failed to take sufficient action following a data breach.”
The Data Protection Bill is seeking to adapt the UK’s data protection laws to the digital age, in which an increasing amount of data is being processed, support UK businesses and organisations through the change and ensure the UK is prepared for the future after it leaves the European Union.
It was introduced to the House of Lords on 13th September 2017.